Electrically-illuminated sign.



Fatemi 1an. 7, 1902.

J. H. soEHsT. ELECTBICALLY lLLUMINATEDfSI'GN.

(Appl: t n ldHar 21 1901) a sham-smi l.

(No Mudel.)

-sfuzgwf No. 690,649. Patented 1an. 7,1902. `J. H, GUEHST.

E LEGTRICA'LLY ILLUMINATED SIGN.

(Application ma mr. 21, 190x.)

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet' 2. l

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cams grens oo. Fuero-uwe., wAsHmGTnN u c Ptented 1an.' 7,V |902.

.1. H. GnEHsT. y ELECTHIGALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN.

(Application filed Mar. 21, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.'

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f y M zwew- I Zaag/dmv- UNITED. STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN'H. GOEHST, OF CHICAGO', ILLINOIS ELECTRlCALLY-ILLUMINATED SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,649, dated January7, 1902.

l Application iiled March Z1, 1901. Serial No. 52,145. (No model.)

- To cr/ZZ whom it may concer-71,:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. Gonnsr, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electrically- Illuminated Signs; and I do hereby declare *that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electrically-illuminatedsigns.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a sign whichembraces the main features of the invention.` Fig. 2 is a view incross-section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View in longitudinalsection of a portion of the socket-inclosure. Fig. 4 is a View of aportion of the frame, showing the lamps staggered and a consequentlynarrow socket-inclosure. Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section, partiallybroken away, showing an arrangement of the lamp-sockets when staggered.

Referring to Figs. l to 3 of the drawings, A

represents the main body of a sign, which may be of any preferred shape.As herein shown said body has the form of a rectangular plate and may bemade of glass,-porcelain, metal, or like material, on which is paintedor otherwise displayed the subjectmatter of the sign. Said main body Ais inclosed bya frame B, and said frame is made tubular to receivesockets for electric lamps, by which the sign is illuminated. Said frameis shown as made of side pieces h h', adapted to be'joined at theirinner and outer margins in a manner to provide a waterproof inclosure.Said side pieces v are made of thin sheet material bent or molded allyoutwardly in overlapping relation, and bolts D pass through said marginsto hold the side members of the frame together. overlapping margins ofthe side members are preferably covered by metallic weather-strips C ofU form in cross-section, the bolts passing through said strips andsecuring the wholek together and providing a water-tight joint.

The side members are still further secured by a plurality of bolts B',which pass through the socket-inclosure from side to side, as`

shown. Within the tubular frame thus constructed'are located a pluralityof socket-supports E. Each of said supports may consist of a metal stripbent to form two angularlydisposed arms e e. In such construction theshorter arm e of each support. is secured to the inner face of theperimeter-wall of one of the side members h by rivets or other suitablefastening means, and the longer arm eX- tends inwardly centrally of saidinclosure and. generally parallel with the sign-body. Incandescent-lampsockets F of any suitable or standard pattern are secured by screws f toboth sides of the arm e of each support. Said sockets, asherein shown,are provided at. either side with projecting clips f', inv

which are secured the conductors G G, which extend from socket to socketin the usual manner. The sidemembers are provided opposite to saidsockets with apertures b4,

through which pass the electric lamps connected with said sockets, saidlamps being arranged in two similar groups, one projecting from eachside of the frame. The lamps are provided with suitable packing-rings Hof suitable material, which are adjusted to closely encircle the globesof the lamps at the points of contact with the edges of the sideapertures, so as to form tight joints to prevent the ingress to theinclosure of water or snow.

As shown in Fig. 1, the conductors G are brought into thesocket-inclosure through a suitable opening b5 at the side thereof. Theframe may be conveniently supported by suitable hangers I, suspendedfrom abracket-rod K. The latter may be made hollow or tubular and mayhave an outer ornamental hold low end piece lc. Conveniently theconductors G may be led from the building on which the sign is supportedthrough said rod to the sign.

In case it is preferred to have the lamps on Said the opposite sides ofthe socket-inclosure staggered with relation to each other and when itis desirable to have the socket-inclosure with as little Width aspossible the construction indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 may be followed.Herein the socket-supports are shown in the form ouf blocks N ofsuitable material, secured to the inner faces of theside pieces. Eachblock is fastened to one of the side pieces opposite an aperture in theother side piece, the blocks (where the staggered construction shown inFig. 4 is employed) being alternately secured to opposite sides of thesocket-inclosure. This construction admits of a socket-inclosure butslightly wider than the socket, the advantage in width gained beingclearly shown by a comparison of Figs. 2 and 5, which are drawn to thesame scale.

Obviously when the sign is to hang against a Wall the lamps andapertures may be omittedfrom one side of the inclosure, which may thenbe made with one side unperforated.

The construction herein shown provides a Water-tight inclosure for thelamp-sockets, connections, and conductors and at the same time is somade as to allow ready inspection of said parts and easy renewal of thelamps. The sign may be readily and economically constructed and is verydurable, not being aeoted by climat-ic changes. It will also be observedthat the sign is ireproof and moist-proof, due not only to the construc-Vtion described, but to the absence of Wood in the construction. Anotheradvantage of the construction is its durability, and yet anotheradvantage is its adaptability to various purposes for which signs areused by simply re moving the body A or sign proper from the frame andinserting one of a diiferent design or designation, as required, Withoutother- Wise disturbing or rearranging the lights, frame, or connections.It will also be manifest that the lamps do not cover the sign proper orletters, and thus this sign is as useful by day as by night.

I claim as my invention- 1. An electrically-illuminated sign comprisinga central sign-body and a surrounding tubular socket-inclosing framehaving internal socket-supports, and sockets mounted on the oppositesides of said supports, said frame being provided on the opposite sidesthereof comprising separable side members joined at their margins,socket-supports inclosed by said side members, and sockets supportedthereon, the outer margins of said side members being overlapped, and astrip of U shape in crosssection applied over said overlapping margins,said side members being provided with lamp-receiving apertures.

4. An electrically-illuminated sign comprising a tubular socketinclosure having separable sheet-metal side members made withoverlapping iianges on the outer margins of said side members, fasteningdevices passing through said anges, socket-supports secured to one ofsaid side members, and sockets mounted on said supports, said inclosurebeing provided inline with said sockets with lamp-receiving apertures.

5. An electrically-illuminated sign comprising a central sign-body and asurrounding tubular socket-supporting frame having internalsocket-supports, and sockets mounted on said supports, said frame beingprovided on opposite sides thereof in line with the sockets, withlamp-receiving apertures through which are adapted to project inopposite directions lamps mounted in said sockets.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aftix mysignature, in presence of tWo Witnesses, this 16th day of March, 1901.

JOHN H. GOEHST.

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, CLEMENT R. STICKNEY.

